The Apple

1998 1h 22m FA

😐

6.4

MID

★6.4TMDB · 60

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

After twelve years of imprisonment by their own parents, two Iranian sisters are finally released by social workers to face the outside world for the first time.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Massoumeh Naderi
Massoumeh
Zahra Naderi
Zahra
Ghorban Ali Naderi
Father
Azizeh Mohamadi
Azizeh
Zahra Saghrisaz

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Samira Makhmalbaf
Writers: Samira Makhmalbaf, Mohsen Makhmalbaf
Languages: Persian
Countries: Iran, France, Netherlands

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

82 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

28 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: Iran, France, Netherlands.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Samira Makhmalbaf, shot by Ebrahim Ghafori. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Mohsen Makhmalbaf shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Massoumeh Naderi and Zahra Naderi and Ghorban Ali Naderi carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0156901 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Samira Makhmalbaf directs. Ebrahim Ghafori behind the camera. Mohsen Makhmalbaf cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Iran, France, Netherlands. Dialogue in Persian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

182 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
228 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3International production across 3 countries: Iran, France, Netherlands.
4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
5Directed by Samira Makhmalbaf, shot by Ebrahim Ghafori. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Editor Mohsen Makhmalbaf shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Massoumeh Naderi and Zahra Naderi and Ghorban Ali Naderi carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0156901 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 60 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.